Spool Repair

ABSTRACT

The instant application discloses, among other things, a way to repair a spool. In one embodiment, the way to repair the spool may include a disk configured to receive a coupler. The coupler may be projected from a center of the disk. In another embodiment, the coupler may have prongs with various dimensions attached along its length. This may provide a fix for damaged flange portions of wire or cable spools, thereby preventing cable or wire, wound around a spool&#39;s tubular core, from coming undone or tangling.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to spool repair.

BACKGROUND

General contractors and commercial electricians use spools to carry and hold cable or wire. Structurally, spools ordinarily have a flange positioned at each end of an elongated tube portion. The flange, possessing a diameter greater than the tube portion, prevent cable or wire, wound around the tube portion, from coming undone and tangling. However, damage to either of the flange portions, not an uncommon occurrence in building environments, may result in wasted cable or wire and time.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure, nor does it identify key or critical elements of the claimed subject matter, or define its scope. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed in a simplified form as a precursor to the more detailed description that is later presented.

The instant application discloses, among other things, a wire or cable Spool Repair. According to one embodiment, Spool Repair may comprise a coupler which may connect orthogonally to a center of a disk. The coupler may be attached to a damaged spool, whereby the disk may serve the function of an undamaged flange, preventing cable or wire, wound around a spool's tubular core, from coming undone or tangling. The coupler protruding from the center of the disk may attach to a damaged end of a spool through insertion into one end of the spool's tube. Glue or another means of adhesion may be used with the coupler to help secure it to the internal surface of the spool's tubular portion.

A person skilled in the art will understand that Spool Repair may be made in various shapes and sizes, and of various materials, such as plastic or wood, for example.

Many of the attendant features may be more readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description may be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an undamaged spool.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a spool with a broken flange.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of spool repair, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of spool repair with prongs distributed around the coupler, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of spool repair, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of spool repair attached to a spool, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of undamaged Spool 110. Spool 110 may be used, for example, to store and dispense wire, rope, or other cord-like material. The material may be wrapped around Tube 130, and prevented from sliding off either side by Flange 120 or Flange 140.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of Spool 210 with broken Flange 220. Flanges may be damaged or broken when in areas such as the back of work trucks, for example. When wire or other material is being dispensed from Spool 210, it may get caught on Broken Flange 220, which may cause the material to break or become tangled. This may consume work time to untangle or to obtain another spool, as well as damaging the material, which may cost money to replace.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of Spool Repair 300, according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, Spool Repair 300 may include Disk 310, which may comprise a flat, round object. Disk 310 may have Diameter 320, for example, from 1″ to 10″. Disk 310 may have thickness or Width 330, for example, from ⅛″ to 2″.

Disk 310 may be operable to receive Coupler 340. Coupler 340 may protrude orthogonally from a center of Disk 310. Coupler 340 may help secure Spool Repair 300 to a tubular portion of a spool which may have sustained damage, for example, a broken flange. Spool Repair 300 may help prevent cable or wire from untangling from the spool. Coupler 340 may have Diameter 350, for example, from 1/16″ to 4″. In addition, Coupler 340 may have Length 360, for example, from 1/16″ to 1″.

Attachment Means 345 may be used with Coupler 340 to help secure it to the internal surface of the spool's tubular portion. Attachment Means 345 may be an adhesive, magnet, hook and loop fastener, clip, screw, bolt, or another type of fastener. Alternatively, Attachment Means 345 may couple Disk 310 to a flange, for example, an adhesive, magnet, hook and loop fastener, clip, screw, bolt, or another type of fastener.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of Spool Repair 400 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, Coupler 440 may have a plurality of Prongs 410, with various dimensions, distributed around Coupler 440. Prongs 410 may run along a length of Coupler 440. Prongs 410 may enable Spool Repair 400 to be secured more tightly to a broken spool.

A person skilled in the art will understand that Spool Repair 400 or its components may be made in various shapes, sizes, and materials, for example, polymers, composites, wood, rubber, or metal.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of Spool Repair 400, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of Spool Repair 300 attached to a spool, according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, Spool Tube 410 may comprise a tubular portion of a spool. The spool may have a Damaged Flange 420 or an Undamaged Flange 430. Damaged Flange 420 may be chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged from normal wear and tear or rough handling in the construction industry, for example.

Disk 310 may be operable to securely receive Coupler 340. Coupler 340 may be disposed so as to protrude orthogonally from a center of Disk 310. Coupler 340 may securely attach to an inside portion of Spool Tube 410. This configuration may enable Disk 310 to press firmly against Damaged Flange 420 or an end of Spool Tube 410 to prevent cable or wire wound around Spool Tube 410 from coming undone or tangling.

A more particular description of certain embodiments of Spool Repair may be had by reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings that form a part of this specification, in which like numerals represent like objects.

While the detailed description above has been expressed in terms of specific examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other configurations could be used. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that various equivalent modifications of the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Additionally, the illustrated operations in the description show certain events occurring in a certain order. In alternative embodiments, certain operations may be performed in a different order, modified or removed. Moreover, steps may be added to the above-described logic and still conform to the described embodiments. Further, operations described herein may occur sequentially or certain operations may be processed in parallel. 

1. A spool repair device, comprising: a coupler, the coupler operable to secure to an end of a spool; a disk, the disk operable to receive the coupler; and an attachment means, the attachment means operable to secure the disk to the coupler.
 2. The device of claim 1, further operable to secure to an internal surface of a tubular portion of the spool.
 3. The device of claim 1, further operable to have the attachment means secure the disk orthogonally to a center of the coupler.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises an item selected from the list containing an adhesive, magnet, hook and loop fastener, clip, screw, and bolt.
 5. The device of claim 1, comprising a material selected from the list containing polymers, composites, wood, rubber, and metal. 